February 16 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Study finds 7 newly-identified COVID-19 variants circulating in the United States – CNN
https://abc7chicago.com/10342025/
— NAACP, Congressman sue Trump, Giuliani, extremist groups over Capitol riot – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/10344529/

NBC5
— Kinzinger’s Family Blasts Him in Letter After Vote to Impeach Trump
https://www.nbcchicago.com/top-videos-home/kinzingers-family-blasts-him-in-letter-after-vote-to-impeach-trump-nyt/2439640/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Trump trashes Mitch McConnell in searing new statement – Morgan Phillips
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/trump-trashes-mitch-mcconnell-in-searing-new-statement

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Trump calls McConnell a ‘political hack’ as GOP divide deepens post-impeachment – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-trump-mcconnell-gop-divide-20210217-yttnnj67wreb3lraurreksn2jy-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “Rep. Adam Kinzinger is pressing Republicans to leave Trump behind — censured by his party and shunned by family members for doing so.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-nyt-adam-kinzinger-family-letter-20210216-xr4njhqxzneivjigw467col6ia-story.html
— In Milwaukee, Biden to call for fast-tracking COVID-19 relief plan | CTU vs. Lightfoot battle over, what’s next? | Trump, Kinzinger tension goes back to 2016 – LISA DONOVAN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-biden-milwaukee-covid19-relief-ctu-lightfoot-pritzker-budget-spin-20210216-pv3n4uxgundevfqgjwr7w2dq6y-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “Let’s cancel the phony ‘cancel culture’ fight in today’s politics.” I should write a book about those who have worked the hardest to cancel others. They focus on canceling those like me a) who they cannot manipulate/dominate, b) who refuse to glorify and praise them, c) who refuse to pander to them, d) who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, and/or e) who refuse to give them money. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton’s West District, in Wheaton, in Milton Township, in DuPage County’s 4th District, in DuPage County, and in Illinois. I would focus on those who blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems. I would focus on those who have been candidates on ballots in my precinct.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/clarence-page/ct-column-adam-kinzinger-trump-cancel-culture-page-20210216-56j6iirmfjbn3nzxlywvgzz47i-story.html
— Millennial renters are giving up on homeownership, as COVID-19 and financial struggles make 1 in 5 say it’ll never happen – DARCEL ROCKETT
(DIERSEN: I bought a new town home in University Park in 1972 when I was 24 years old. The down payment came from what I had earned and saved a) working for IRS for 15 months in 1971 and 1972 and b) working for Firestone Stores full-time for 7 months 1970-1971 and part-time for 18 months 1971-1972. That money also enabled me to buy a new Corvette in 1971 and to pay tuition for graduate business courses at Loyola.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/real-estate/ct-re-millennial-renters-apartment-affordability-0215-20210216-7oehhm24c5adnm76tplwbla42i-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Biden’s ‘commonsense’ gun controls make little sense. The president would arbitrarily limit Second Amendment rights and threaten the industry that makes it possible to exercise them. – Jacob Sullum
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/2/16/22285729/gun-control-joe-biden-parkland-shooting-assault-weapons-second-amendment-jacob-sullum

DAILY HERALD
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Kane County may rescind cannabis ban next month – James Fuller
(DIERSEN: To push pot on an individual, municipality, county, state, or country is to destroy that individual, municipality, county, state, or country.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210216/kane-county-may-rescind-cannabis-ban-next-month
— Suburban Democrats eye education funding ahead of Pritzker budget proposal – JJ Bullock
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210216/suburban-democrats-eye-education-funding-ahead-of-pritzker-budget-proposal
— ‘A complete bungle:’ Texas’ energy pride goes out with cold – AP
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20210216/business/302169908/

WGLT
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats and RINOs get rid of individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that do not promote LGBTQ.
https://www.wglt.org/post/illinois-fight-lgbtq-rights-continues#stream/0

CHICAGO READER
— ‘Nothing that we do that is worthwhile is done alone’ – Ariel Parrella-Aureli
(DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents have stressed not only the lack of support that me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters have gotten from many who paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican, but how the aforesaid have worked against me and my newsletters. I should write a book about the aforesaid. I would focus on those who have/had lots of religious, conservative, and/or Republican clout in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County’s 4th District, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who have been candidates on ballots in my precinct since 2000. I would focus on those who promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and/or age discrimination.)
https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/mariame-kaba-we-do-this-til-we-free-us/Content?oid=86497187

CAPITOL FAX
— 1,348 new confirmed and probable cases; 32 additional deaths; 1,726 hospitalized; 385 in ICU; 2.8 percent average case positivity rate; 3.4 percent average test positivity rate; 63,772 average daily doses
https://capitolfax.com/2021/02/16/1348-new-confirmed-and-probable-cases-32-additional-deaths-1726-hospitalized-385-in-icu-28-percent-average-case-positivity-rate-34-percent-average-test-positivity-rate-63772-average-daily-doses/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Dems’ bill creating a publicly accessible gun registry called ‘very dangerous’ Would require gun owners to buy firearms insurance and ban certain types of ammunition – Jeff Mordock
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/16/gun-registry-bill-sheila-jackson-lee-called-danger/
— Trump tells GOP to ditch McConnell, vows to back primary challengers – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/16/donald-trump-rips-mitch-mcconnell-promises-maga-pr/

FOX NEWS
— Tucker: Elites pushing ‘green energy’ are out of touch with America
https://news.yahoo.com/tucker-elites-pushing-green-energy-013055023.html
— Ingraham: Dems rely on Trump, ‘virus panic’ to hide damage they’ve done
https://news.yahoo.com/ingraham-dems-rely-trump-virus-034605298.html

GOPUSA
— It’s Time For Mitch McConnell To Go
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=106550
— A Massive Power Failure In Texas Points Up The Danger Of Relying On Green Energy
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=106556
— Skepticism, Concern Surround Effectiveness Of COVID Vaccines
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=106546

AMERICAN THINKER
— What will CPAC 2021 reveal about the Republican Party’s direction? – Peter Skurkiss
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/02/what_will_cpac_2021_reveal_about_the_republican_partys_direction.html

BREITBART
— The Woke Force: Biden Pentagon Pursues Leftist Domestic Agenda – KRISTINA WONG
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/02/15/the-woke-force-biden-pentagon-pursues-leftist-domestic-agenda/

NEWSMAX
— Utah GOP Members Circulate Petition to Censure Romney for Trump Vote – Charlie McCarthy
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/utah-romney-petition-impeachment/2021/02/15/id/1010109/

TOWNHALL
— Texas’s ‘Nightmare’ Energy Situation Is a Warning to the Rest of America – Leah Barkoukis
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2021/02/16/texas-freezing-weather-windmills-n2584773

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— H.R.1 – The Democrat Plan To Appoint A National Speech Police Czar
https://www.conservativehq.org/post/h-r-1-the-democrat-plan-to-appoint-a-national-speech-police-czar

PATRIOT POST
— The ‘Mainstream’ Media Attacks Freedom of the Press Big Media wants to quash competition, even at the expense of First Amendment freedoms. – HAROLD HUTCHISON (DIERSEN: The mainstream media is an arm of the Democrat Party.)
https://patriotpost.us/articles/77758-the-mainstream-media-attacks-freedom-of-the-press-2021-02-16

EPOCH TIMES
— Trump Says GOP Won’t Win With McConnell, Plans to Back MAGA Primary Candidates – JACK PHILLIPS
https://www.theepochtimes.com/trump-gop-wont-win-if-they-stick-with-mcconnell-will-back-maga-primary-challengers_3699378.html

POLITICO
— Trump attacks McConnell in fiery statement. McConnell publicly soured on the former president after the Jan. 6 attack, breaking four years of loyal support from the Senate leadership. – MATTHEW CHOI
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/16/trump-attacks-mcconnell-in-fiery-statement-469150

THE HILL
— Poll: Majority say Twitter, others should unban Trump now that he’s out of office
https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/539076-poll-majority-say-twitter-and-social-media-sites-should-unban
— Trump unloads on McConnell, promises MAGA primary challengers – JONATHAN EASLEY
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/539077-trump-unloads-on-mcconnellpromises-maga-primary-challengers
— State parties seek to punish anti-Trump Republicans – JONATHAN EASLEY AND MAX GREENWOOD
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/539074-state-parties-seek-to-punish-anti-trump-republicans

REUTERS
— Trump, Giuliani accused in lawsuit of conspiring to incite Capitol riot
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-lawsuit/trump-giuliani-accused-in-lawsuit-of-conspiring-to-incite-capitol-riot-idUSKBN2AG1WD?il=0

NBC NEWS
— #OpenOurSchools: GOP targets teachers unions in bid to retake suburbs. Republicans say parents have had it with in-home learning and want their kids back in the classroom. – Alex Seitz-Wald and Allan Smith
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/openourschools-gop-targets-teachers-unions-bid-retake-suburbs-n1257899

NEW YORK TIMES
— North Carolina Republicans Censure Richard Burr Over Impeachment Vote – Mike Ives
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/us/politics/richard-burr-censure-impeachment.html
— What’s Delaying Boardroom Diversity (DIERSEN: Democrats and RINOs a) run the boardrooms and b) blame Republicans for delayed diversity.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/business/dealbook/diversity-corporate-boardrooms.html

BOSTON HERALD
— Former Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore blasts Biden’s economic plan as ‘negative for jobs’ – LISA KASHINSKY
https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/02/16/former-trump-economic-adviser-stephen-moore-blasts-bidens-economic-plan-as-negative-for-jobs/

JD SUPRA
— Illinois Set To Enact New Law Limiting Criminal Convictions In Employment Decisions
(DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/illinois-set-to-enact-new-law-limiting-8832497/

NEWSWEEK
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD, TRAGIC: Hate-filled Republican-hating Republican-haters use Erika Harold to promote hatred against Republicans.
https://www.newsweek.com/erika-harold-miss-america-republican-ashamed-twitter-1569636

NPR
— Son Of Prominent Conservative Activist Charged In Capitol Riot – TOM DREISBACH
https://www.npr.org/2021/02/16/968491281/son-of-prominent-conservative-activist-charged-in-capitol-riot

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Voters Sharply Divided Over Impeachment Verdict
https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration/voters_sharply_divided_over_impeachment_verdict

LGBTQ NATION
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, those who promote LGBTQ promote hatred against Republicans.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/02/integrity-word-republicans-dont-understand-longer/

PATHEOS
— The cult of Christian nationalism – Barbara Alvarez and Anne Nicol Gaylor
(DIERSEN: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters use Kinzinger and his relatives to promote hatred against Trump and against Trump’s supporters.)
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/freethoughtnow/the-cult-of-christian-nationalism/

INDEPENDENT
— Adam Kinzinger reveals letter ‘brainwashed’ Trump-loving relatives sent him after he voted for impeachment Six-term Illinois Republican says ‘quite honestly, I don’t care if they do or not’ reach out after disavowing him for impeaching former president – Gino Spocchia
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/adam-kinzinger-trump-family-letter-b1802874.html

DAILY MAIL
— GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger’s family DISOWNS him for opposing Trump: 11 relatives sign handwritten letter calling him a ‘disappointment to God and Lou Dobbs’ and a member of the ‘devil’s army’ after he backed impeachment. – LUKE KENTON
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9264005/Kinzinger-releases-letter-family-saying-joined-devils-army-backing-Trumps-impeachment.html

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.